In a press conference in New Delhi, BRS Working President KTR urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to alleged corruption in Telangana’s AMRUT tender process. He highlighted that while the Prime Minister previously accused Telangana of being an ‘ATM’ for Congress and for other state elections, it is critical that he addresses the local corruption as well.
KTR stated that, despite ongoing allegations, Modi has not taken any measures to curb the congress government’s corruption in the state of Telangana. He emphasized that it’s not enough to make accusations about Rahul and Revanth Tax in Telangana without any action. “Prime Minister Modi must take immediate steps to address the corruption concerns tied to the Amrut tenders as BRS has submitted substantial proofs about the corruption to the central government,” he said.
It is to be noted that the delegation led by the KTR and BRS party MPs met union minister Manohar Lal Khattar yesterday and submitted a representation for taking an enquiry and the cancellation of AMRUT tenders. Khattar has assured to take action on the alleged corruption in the AMRUT tenders. “He requested time until the upcoming parliamentary sessions to gather information and initiate appropriate action. If the central government does not address the corruption in the AMRUT tenders during the parliamentary session, we will bring this issue to the forefront IN the Rajya Sabha” KTR said.
KTR challenged BJP’s sincerity, calling this a litmus test for their commitment to rooting out congress corruption. He claimed that if the accusations made by BJP leaders and PM Modi hold any merit, action should follow. He also highlighted that Amrut tenders have allegedly been awarded to family members of the Chief Minister and other ministers. According to KTR, if these allegations are false, BJP leaders should reassure the public. However, if they are true, BJP must break their silence and take definitive action.
KTR criticized union minister Bandi Sanjay, asserting that he jumps into defence of CM Revanth Reddy but fails to address the Congress government’s corruption. KTR said that despite having 8 BJP MP’s in Telangana the party never spoke of the congress corruption in various issues. KTR also took aim at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, stating, “I welcome Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge to visit the ‘Goat Mandi’ in Telangana, as he claims that MPs and MLAs are being bought like sheep.” KTR suggested that Kharge should witness firsthand how Congress itself is involved in this ‘buying of sheep’ in Telangana, inviting him to observe what he described as ‘political horse-trading’. KTR said that the Congress has allegedly engineered a culture of ‘Aaya Ram–Gaya Ram’ party defections. He argued that Congress has lost the moral authority to criticize party defection issues after absorbing ten BRS legislators in Telangana.
KTR pointed to specific instances of alleged corruption within Telangana’s AMRUT tender process, valued at over Rs. 8,888 crore. He stated that he lodged a complaint with the Union Urban Development Minister regarding the matter. KTR claimed that details about the tenders are not being disclosed, even under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
According to KTR, tenders were awarded to Shodha Constructions, a company tied to the Chief Minister’s brother-in-law, Sudini Srujan Reddy, despite the company’s lack of necessary qualifications. He further alleged that Indian Hume Pipe Company, a qualified firm, was used as a front while the bulk of the work went to Shoda Construction, which has a limited annual profit.
KTR asserted that this is a prime example of crony capitalism, echoing statements made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He demanded that the central government cancel these AMRUT tenders immediately and alleged that the Chief Minister has also violated the Office of Profit Act, referencing Article 191 of the Constitution. KTR warned that such violations could result in leaders like Revanth Reddy and Ponguleti losing their positions in lines with Sonia Gandhi losing her post in UPA term in the past.
KTR accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of deceiving the people of Maharashtra with unfulfilled promises, claiming that Telangana’s state government funds, totaling Rs. 300 crore, are being misused to spread misleading information in Maharashtra. According to KTR, these funds, which were supposed to be allocated for local development projects and promises made to the people of Telangana, are instead being diverted for campaign purposes through advertisements. He argued that the government is using hundreds of crores to advertise the implementation of promises that have not been fulfilled in Telangana.
KTR asserted that Rahul Gandhi is falsely claiming accomplishments in Telangana, stating that the Congress leader has implemented programs and fulfilled promises that were, in reality, left unaddressed. For instance, KTR highlighted that Rahul Gandhi has been telling the people of Maharashtra that Congress delivered a Rs. 2,500 financial assistance to women, a claim that he stated is untrue. Furthermore, KTR pointed out that Congress has failed to meet many of the promises it made to the people of Telangana, including the long-promised farmer loan waiver, which remains incomplete despite public assertions to the contrary.
KTR urged the people of Maharashtra to critically examine these claims and enquire Telangana residents on the actual state of Congress’s guarantees. KTR called on Maharashtra voters to support regional parties rather than national parties like Congress and BJP, emphasizing that regional parties have been more effective in countering BJP in states like Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, while Congress, he argued, has proven unable to do so.
KTR has alleged that funds from corrupt practices in Telangana are being funneled into Maharashtra’s elections, calling for strict oversight from the Election Commission. He emphasized that the Election Commission should take direct control over monitoring the borders between Maharashtra and Telangana to prevent the misuse of Telangana’s public funds for electoral influence across state lines. According to KTR, such intervention is essential to halt the flow of Telangana’s money into Maharashtra.
He recalled that in the past, the central government flagged the use of funds from the Karnataka Valmiki scam during Telangana elections, yet no corrective measures were implemented. KTR insisted that it is now the responsibility of the Central Election Commission to ensure that Telangana’s money does not impact the Maharashtra elections, urging vigilance to maintain electoral integrity.
Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti faces serious allegations of corruption, which, according to KTR, could lead to his removal from office. KTR questioned why Congress appears anxious about BRS presence in Delhi, he said he will expose the corruption of the congress party in front of national media and parties. He emphasized the need to expose Rahul Gandhi, who is speaking in Delhi about crony capitalism.
KTR highlighted that Ponguleti, who reportedly sat in the cabinet and awarded contracts to his own son’s firm named Raghava constructions, will inevitably lose his position due to these actions. He noted that despite a recent investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the Revenue Minister, neither the ED nor Ponguleti himself has made any public statement. However, KTR pointed out that after the ED’s involvement, Adani met with the same minister, raising further questions about these associations.
KTR insisted that Ponguleti must disclose the details of his meeting with Adani, questioning the ethics of awarding contracts to his son’s company while holding a cabinet position. He criticized Ponguleti for defending his decision by claiming that Raghava Company, which received these tenders, is superior to well-established firms like L&T and NCC. KTR demanded a clear ministerial response to clarify the basis for these disqualifications and the reasoning behind awarding the contract to his own company.
KTR addressed the issue of land acquisition in Kodangal, where he claimed that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is allegedly seizing land for a pharma company owned by his son-in-law. He expressed solidarity with the people of Kodangal, who, according to KTR, faced police action, including lathi charges, while protesting these acquisitions. KTR emphasized that it is unheard of for a district collector to face public resistance to this extent in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and he demanded a government explanation.